As is evident from the title, this piece has been triggered and inspired by Wordsworth.I never dwelt upon it much, when the poem was part of school syllabus. When a friend sent me a recitation of the poem recently,I thought, would Wordsworth have to wonder about what the Solitary Reaper was singing if he was a woman?
Forever,Solitary Reaper.
You can't spot herIn the milling crowd
A smiling countenance
Masking the bile and pain
The laughter rings hollow
Barely hiding the strain
O listen! to that unheard cry
That lies stiffled and dry
A cry so plaintive
It slices the heart
Heard from every corner of the Earth
Near or apart
The stylish swinging blonde on heels
Or kohl lined eyes beneath the veil
O listen !to the anguish
Bruised lips whispering a wish
The struggles and travails
She faces alone
For uncommitted sins
She must atone
The melancholy common to the sisterhood
At work, at home or neighbourhood
O listen! to the silent weeper
Isn't she another Solitary Reaper?!!
Solitary solace for her is - she reapeth what she sowed ☺️🙏🏼 Sabina
ReplyDeleteवाह
ReplyDeleteThis poem is a testament of your poetic talent .I can't wait to see what you write ✍️ next.....
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteSpeechless.
ReplyDeleteThank you friends. Please leave your names behind.
ReplyDeleteThis is so much relatable, the plight is aptly resonating with the emotions each word is carrying
ReplyDeleteकमोबेश या कहूँ इससे भी कहीं अधिक दर्द सहा है हर नारी ने। कभी संस्कारों की आड़ में कभी आर्थिक रूप से स्वतंत्र ना होने के कारण। हर नई पीढी कई नई चुनौतियों का सामना करती है। एक वर्ग की अनकही व्यथा को उकेरती रचना के लिए आभार रश्मि जी🙏
ReplyDeleteआपको अनेक धन्यवाद। नई पीढ़ी के साथ, शायद नारी के स्वरूप में कुछ परिवर्तन आए।
DeleteAs ever appealing to senses... empathizing!
ReplyDeleteSaima Yunus
The poetry is great but somehow the portrayal of woman as a sufferer does not appeal me any more not because the suffering has stopped - there is a long way to go. It's time for quiet assertion to claim the rightful space.- Sujata
ReplyDeleteSuffering is a reality.
DeleteThe upheaval is taking place with younger generation...not just quiet assertion but aggressive assertion.
In 1807, a trip to rural Scotland with his sister Dorothy, Wordsworth tried to describe the song he heard a young Scottish woman singing as she gathered the harvest- the reaper's song- it has been beautifully sung one more time in 2024!
ReplyDeleteThanks. That's flattering.
DeleteAptly put..the agony...looking forward to the ecstatic one!
ReplyDeleteThese Solitary Reapers manage to find moments of ecstasy in between to keep themselves going😊
DeleteBeautifully Written !
ReplyDeleteHave read the poem 'Solitary Reaper' at school and fond memories of my English teacher flashed through my mind. She used to make each and every lesson so lively and interesting.
Loved the phrase ' melancholy common to sisterhood' in your poem, such a heart-touching phrase , a stirring and realistic tribute to the solidarity and struggles of women worldwide. You've sensationally captured the panorama of women's experiences across the globe.
Liked it 👍
Thank you Namita .Am so glad, I have been able to touch a nerve somewhere.
DeleteTo this I will say "Three cheers to sisterhood"!😀🙏
बहुत सुंदर। यह मन की बात सदियों से नारी मन ही मन गुन रही है और समाज बस सुन रहा है।
ReplyDeleteगलियों में, गलियारों में,
लैला, हीर और पारो में।
खेतों में खलिहानों में,
मन ही मन गुनती गानों में।
गौतम का न्याय, छुई मुई!
अहिल्या ही पाषाण हुई।
त्रेता में तपती सीता हो,
द्वापर की परिणीता हो।
शाह बानो का शौहर हो,
दुर्गावती का जौहर हो।
दंगाई का दंगा हो,
सिर्फ औरत ही नंगा हो!
नीर भया चीत्कार हो,
मणिपुर बलात्कार हो।
खाने में बस जूठन हो,
घर में घुटती घुटन हो।
दहेज, वैधव्य की बला में,
जयशंकर प्रसाद की अबला में ।
सदियों से यही कहानी है,
आंचल में दूध, आंखों में पानी है!
बहुत अच्छे। नमन और अभिनंदन। पशुपति
Deleteधन्यवाद एवं आभार
Deleteविश्वमोहन, इतनी सुंदर और मार्मिक प्रतिक्रियात्मक रचना के लिए आभार। इसको आप अपने ब्लॉग पर भी डालिए, ताकि ज़्यादा लोगों तक पहुंच सके।
Deleteउपहास है तब कि चण्डिकेय का कर नमन
ReplyDeleteसजी समाज में घनघोर चुप की वाणी हो 🙏🏼
Please share this on public platforms.... otherwise मैं चुप नहीं रहूँगी 💕♥️💕
आपकी पारखी नजर से बढ़िया और उपयुक्त भला और कौन सा प्लेटफॉर्म हो सकता है। हार्दिक आभार और प्रणाम🙏🏼🙏🏼😀
DeleteLeaving a lasting image on one’s heart❤️ N mind that how important is an individual at the lowest stage of society ,well scripted n musical too
ReplyDeleteAr Amit Ranjan
Thank you so much, Ravi.
Delete